Goodnight Baxter

Title: Goodnight Baxter

Author: Nicola Edwards

Overall Rating (1-10): 10

Value (1-10): 10

Flexibility (1-10): N/A

Ages/Grades: 4-8

Review:

In Goodnight Baxter, your child is introduced to a child, Charlie who receives a new pet puppy from his father as a surprise. His new puppy, Baxter, being a tiny puppy, feels insecure and afraid in his new home - especially at bedtime! Charlie, being a loving and nurturing new dog owner, tries multiple things to make his irresistible puppy feel more secure so he can sleep at night. But when Charlie fails to wake to one of Baxter's incessant barks, Baxter decides to make the long trek upstairs to Charlie's room where he tries hard to wake Charlie. Here, your child will discover what Baxter REALLY wanted all along. All this time he wanted only to sleep by Charlie's side.

Children who have nighttime fears or insecurities will really relate to Baxter. Children who have had a new puppy or other pet in the house will REALLY relate to Charlie! If your child has moved recently or a move is impending, this tale also helps children realize that it is normal and ok to have some adjustment issues when you are in a new surrounding but that those who love us most will always be there.

This sweet tale is an easy read for new readers. My six year old proudly read it, cover to cover. It is an enjoyable and entertaining read for parents. And the pages are short enough to hold the attention of even my one year old (who has asked me to repeat this book over and over and over) but interesting enough to draw in all the children near me, even my nine year old. The illustrations are beautiful, colorful and exciting with bold, funky colors to keep listeners entertained and new readers clued in to the text.

Bottom Line: This book is affordable for a hard-cover (only around $10.50 at Amazon.com), it is enjoyable for all ages - both the reader and listener, it is entertainingly illustrated and makes a great bed-time story. Although the recommended age for this book is 4-8, I also recommend this group for the younger crowd - my one year old can't get enough of it! I highly recommend this book for emergent readers - especially those with younger siblings who will absolutely love being read this story again and again.

Go To Page: 1 2